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Are you feeling – just a little – as though you could do with a mini makeover? Perhaps you’d just like a suggestion about what in your closet still works for you and what doesn’t. Every now and then a word of guidance may be all that is needed to find a new look that will boost our confidence and make us feel sophisticated and beautiful again.

Tyger Valley Mom and daughter Luana and Alicia van den Brink recently spend a morning with High Street image stylist, Kumari Govender. A mini makeover from head to toe saw the two ladies – who both admitted they are normally quite shy – feel younger, trendier and more attractive and confident following Kumari’s styling suggestions.

Many more mature women don’t realise the fine line they tread between comfort and sloppiness, Kumari observes. “In my experience moms especially dress more for comfort. I try to show how a few accessories can completely transform a look,” says Kumari.

Don’t go OTT with your choice of clothing and accessories says stylist Kumari Govender who runs a fashion boutique on High Street in Tyger Valley.

How the transformation happened:

With Luana (49) Kumari began with a classic silhouette of black top and pants. A jacket by local designer, Kate Jordan added a ‘wow’ factor of sophistication and a touch of trendiness to the outfit while bold – but classic- accessories and black leather ankle boots completed the look.

Bobby Brown’s concealer under the eyes combined with subtle smokey greys on the eyelids beautifully lifted Luana’s almond-shaped eyes. Her naturally light brown hair which she regularly highlights was styled sleek in the front with subtle curls in its length to provide lift.

Alicia (22) was dressed in wet-look leggings, a must for the season, and a purple top with beaded bling-work around the neck. “Purple is a hot colour and bling is still big for this season,” Kumari says. These were combined with autumnal gladiator sandals. Exciting accessories like a bold ‘blingy’ cocktail ring worn this season over black leather-gloved fingers and a skinny belt finished her up-to-date look. Kumari suggests a wider belt for a fuller figure.

Alicia eye’s were given the smokey treatment while nude was chosen for her lips. Kumari suggested adding gloss to the lips, a black trench and ‘blingy’ clutch for an easy switch into a great evening look. Her light brown hair was highlighted throughout and styled in soft trendy curls with a fringe.

Marias Steenkamp from Bobby Brown assisted with make-up and hairstylist Mariechen Martin of Vivacious Hair in Willowbridge with hair.

Kumari suggests that many more mature women often make the mistake of adding too many elements and going OTT. “I’m not a colour chart fan,” Kumari says. “There are so many shades of one colour: although one may not work, another will,” she explains. She doesn’t shop with her clients who tend to shy away with comments like: ‘I don’t look good in that colour’. “Often once they try a piece on, they change their minds,” she notes.

At her boutique in Tyger Valley, Kumari has items by local designers as well as imports from Italy and India. It’s the one-offs by highly-esteemed Indian designers of pure silks and lots of embellishments that Kumari is excited about: designs by Drashta Sarvaiya , Anupamaa Dayal and Raakesh Agarvwal, for example.

Kumari is confident she can make the individual, in need of a mini makeover, feel ‘effortlessly fabulous’ and allow her ‘inner confidence to shine through’. Following an assessment and style plan, Kumari conducts a serious ‘wardrobe weed’ as part of her Image Styling Services. Her next style workshop will be held at the Bella Rosa Lifestyle Centre on May 29.

GET IT MAGAZINE

MAY 2010.

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